Indicator for direction of movement of a boat



Jan. 8, 1963 w. M. BOOTH 3,072,091

INDICATOR FOR DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF A BOAT Filed Jan. 25, 1961 iUni-te rates Patent 3,072,091 TNDHJATQR FGR DHRECTTON 0F MOVEMENT @F A BOATWilliam M. llooth, 213% Vista Place, Grand Haven, Mich. Filed .lan. 23,1961, 501'. No. 84,221 1 Claim. (Cl. 1116-31 This invention relates toan indicator for direction of movement of a boat, and more particularlyto an indicator which is readily viewable by the boat operator.

Presently, a great number of boats using outboard motors as a source ofpower have steering mechanism at the front of the boat whereas the motoris placed at the stern of the boat. Many of the outboard motors haveelectric starting systems so that the operator needs only to positionhimself behind the steering mechanism of the boat, press a button tostart the motor, and the boat is ready to move. With this type ofequipment it is necessary for the operator to turn around to determinethe position of the motor. This is necessary, particularly when the boatis docked since if the motor is turned in the wrong direction the boatwill ram the dock resulting in injury to the boat.

There are many other instances when it is desirable to know the positionof the motor and thus the direction in which the boat will travel. Also,on some of the boats the motor is hidden from view due to the sternconstruc tion. With this type of installation it is absolutely necessaryto have a direction indicating device.

The present invention provides a device which is driven from thesteering wheel shaft. The device may be placed on the steering wheelhousing or boat dash immediately in front of an operator for quickreference.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a directionindicator which is controlled by the rotation of the steering wheelshaft.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a directionindicator which is composed of a minimum number of component parts andis therefore economical to manufacture and maintain.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a direction indicatorwhich can be utilized with existing steering mechanisms with minorchanges.

Another object of this invention is to provide a direction indicatorwhich is readily viewable by the operator to indicate the position inwhich the boat will travel.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore apparent upon reading the specification in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the direction indicator;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the direction indicatortaken along the section 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged plan view of the direction indicatormechanism;

PEG. 4 is a still further enlarged cross-sectional view taken along thesection lines 'IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a modified form of directionindicator;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the modified directionindicator taken along the section lines VI- VI of FIG. 5.

Generally, this invention relates to a device which indicates theposition of the motor or tiller, and thus indicates the direction theboat will travel. On many installations, the steering wheel shaft towhich the steering wheel is connected is journaled in a housing which issecured to the dashboard of a boat. The other end of the steering wheelshaft is provided with a winding drum around which tiller cables arewrapped. The ends of the tiller cables are attached to the motor orrudder of the boat via sheaves in a conventional manner. Thus, rotationof the steering wheel will cause movement of the rudder or motor tosteer the boat. In one form of this invention the steering wheel shaftis provided with threads in the vicinity of the housing. A threadedcollar is in engagement with the threads on the steering wheel shaft andis capable of translation therealong. A sleeve surrounds the steeringwheel shaft and collar and has a cam slot located over the collar. A campin is fixed to the collar and operates in the cam slot. An indicatorneedle is connected to the cam pin. As the steering wheel turns thecollar is translated therealong and rotated by the cam pin operating inthe cam slot. Thus, as the steering wheel is rotated the indicatorneedle is also rotated. An indicator dial having indicia thereon iscarried by the housing. The indicator dial is calibrated with respect tothe indicator needle such that one rotation of the steering wheel shaftcauses the indicator needle to move one indicium. Depending on thedirection of rotation of the steering wheel the indicator needle willmove to the right or left of center thus indicating the position of themotor.

A modified form of direction indicator uses gear means to transmit themotion of the steering wheel shaft to the indicator needle.

The direction indicator assembly is designated generally as 10. Theassembly includes the steering wheel shaft 14, the shaft housing 17, andthe indicator mechanism 25.

FIGS. 1 through 4 best show the direction indicator assembly 10, now tobe described.

The steering wheel shaft housing 17 is an oval or oblong generallycup-shaped member. The open side of the housing is fitted against thefront of a boat dash 12. The housing is secured to the boat dash 12 byconventional fastening means. It has an outwardly projecting hub 19which has bearing means such as the sleeve 28 for supporting thesteering wheel shaft 14. The hub and housing are provided with anaperture 2d to allow passage of the steering wheel shaft 14. The boatdashboard 12 is also provided with an aperture 15 to allow passage ofthe steering wheel shaft 14.

The housing 1'7 has a sight glass 18 which provides means whereby theoperator may view an indicator needle 33 and an indicator dial 26 whichforms part of the indicator mechanism 25.

The steering wheel shaft 14 is provided with a conven tional steeringwheel 13 (as shown in FIG. 1) affixed to one end thereof. The other endof the shaft 14 is provided with a winding drum (not shown) which ispositioned behind the boat dashboard 12. The steering wheel shaft 14 isfixed against longitudinal movement by conventional means such as snaprings (not shown).

The steering wheel shaft 14 is provided with threads 31 which arelocated on a portion of the shaft located within the confines of thehousing 17.

A collar 30 having internal threads 34 is threaded onto the threads '31of steering wheel shaft 14. The collar 3d also has a cam pin 32 which isfixed to the outer periphery of the collar and projects therefrom.

The steering wheel shaft 14 and collar 36 are sur rounded by a sleeve 28which is formed integral with the interior of housing 17. The sleeve 28has a cam slot 29 through which the cam pin 32 projects. The cam slot 29is placed at an angle with respect to the shaft 14 to allow translationof the cam pin 32.

An indicator dial 26 is carried by the housing 17. It is positionedadjacent the boat dashboard 12 and behind the collar 30 and cam slot 2?as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The face of the indicator dial 226 isprovided with indicia 27. The indicia 27 include a. centrally disposedmarker and three marks positioned at equally spaced intervals on eitherside of the central mark.

The cam pin 32 has an indicator needle 33 affixed 3 thereto. Theindicator needle 33 is carried by the cam pin and moves across the faceof the indicator dial to indicate the position of the motor.

The indicator dial 26 is calibrated such that the indicator needle movesthe distance between next adjacent indicia upon one complete rotation ofthe steering shaft 14. The indicator needle 33 moves to the right orleft of the central marker depending upon the direction of rotation ofthe steering wheel.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modified form of direction indicator assembly 40.The assembly it} is a more versatile arrangement than the assembly 10.This is true since the indicator may be added to existing equipment. Asshown in FIGS 5 and 6, the indicator mechanism is secured to aconventional steering wheel shaft housing 17 which is connected to thedashboard 12; however, within the broadest aspect of the invention, theindicator may be positioned elsewhere than on the dashboard.

The assembly 44 includes a steering wheel drive shaft 41 which isprovided with gear teeth 42 at a point hehind the dashboard 12, as shownin FIG. 6. The teeth 42 may be formed by knurling or in some otherconventional manner. The shaft 41 is journaled in a cowling or sleeve 43and fixed against longitudinal movement by conventional means such assnap rings (not shown). The cowling 43 is provided with a gear opening44 to allow a pinion to mesh with the teeth 42 formed on the shaft 41.

A gear reduction box 54} is fixed to the cowling 43 adjacent the gearopening 44. The reduction gear box 50 is of conventional design andtherefore will not be explained in detail.

A take-01f gear 52 is journaled in the side of the reduction gear box5t? and the teeth thereof mesh with the teeth 42 formed on steeringwheel shaft 41. A drive pinion 51 is meshed with the take-off gear 52and connected with the mechanism within gear reduction box 51. Therotation of steering wheel shaft 4-]. is thus conveyed to the reductiongear box 50 via take-off gear 52 and drive gear 51.

A flexible power cable 53 is connected to the output of reduction gearbox 5%) and passes through apertures formed in the dashboard l2 and thefront of housing 17.

An indicator cover at having ears 62 is secured to the housing 17 byconventional fasteners 63. The indicator cover 6% may be attached to thedashboard per se at any appropriate position as the situation maydemand. The cover so has a sight glass 61 which allows the operator toview an indicator dial 65 fixed to the cover 69.

The indicator dial 65 is similar in design to the indicator dial 26,having indicia 66 formed on the face thereof. The indicia include acentral mark and three marks on either side thereof positioned atequally spaced intervals.

An indicator pinion 55 is positioned between the back of the cover of?and the indicator dial 65. The pinion 55 is fixed to a shaft 56 which isjournaled in the back of the cover 60 and the indicator dial 65. Theshaft 56 is of a length such that it extends a substantial distancebeyond the indicator dial 65. An indicator needle 57 is fixed to theprojecting end of the shaft 56.

A transfer shaft 58 is journaled in the indicator dial 65 and the backof cover 60 and projects beyond the back of cover 6%. The transfer shaft58 is provided with one element of a connector 59. The other element ofthe connector 59 is secured to the power cable 53.

A transfer pinion 54 is fixed to the transfer shaft 58 and meshes withthe indicator pinion 55. The output from reduction gear box 50 isconveyed through power cable 53, transfer pinion 54 to indicator pinion55 which, when rotated, rotates the indicator needle 57.

Operation The direction indicator assemblies in and 40 both function toshowthe boat operator the position of the boat motor or rudder which inturn indicates the direction the boat will travel when propelled.

In the assembly 10 the steering wheel shaft 14 is provided with awinding drum (not shown) which has cables wrapped thereabout also fixedto the motor or rudder in a conventional manner. Rotation of thesteering wheel 13 results in turning of the motor or rudder.

As the steering wheel shaft 14 is turned by the steering wheel 13, thethreads 31 work on the threads 34 formed on the interior of collar 30.The cam pin 32 is fixed to the collar 30 and rides in the cam slot 29 ofstationary sleeve 28. Due to this arrangement, the collar 3'!) is freeto rotate only as allowed by the cam slot 29. Thus, as the steeringshaft 14 rotates, the collar 30 translates longitudinally therealong androtates as allowed by the cam slot 29. By cutting threads at sixteenthreads for each of an inch, six turns of the wheel can be indicatedwith only inch of axial or longitudinal travel of the cam pin andindicator needle 33. Since a majority of the steering systems onlyrequire six turns from hard left to hard right, this mechanism is ideal.

As the cam pin 32 follows in the slot 29, the indicator needle iscarried with the cam pin. The indicator dial 26 is so calibrated thatwhen the steering wheel shaft 14 makes one revolution the needle hastraveled from, for example, the central marker to the next adjacentmarker either to the left or right, depending upon the direction ofrotation of the-steering wheel shaft. The indicator needle 33 is thenlined with this marker or indicium and indicates to the operator thatthe motor is turned one turn to the right or left, as the case may be.With another turn of the wheel in the same direction, the indicatorneedle move over another indicium or mark and so on until three completeturns have been made. The rudder or motor is then turned hard right orhard left, depending upon the direction of rotation. Thus, it can beseen that the position of the motor is readily indicated and provides aninstant reference to the operator since the indicating mechanism isimmediately in front of him on the dashboard.

The direction indicator assembly 4% indicates the posit-ion of the motoror rudder in a manner similar to the assembly lltl except that themechanism used to move the indicator needle 57 is different from thatused to move the indicator needle 33. In the assembly 45, the rotationof the steering Wheel shaft 41 is conveyed to the indicator needle 57through the various gears and power cable. Thus, rotation of the shaft41 causes rotation of take-off gear 52 and drive gear 51. Drive gear 51in turn operates the reduction gear unit 56, the output of which isconveyed through power cable 53 to the transfer shaft 58. The motion oftransfer shaft 58 is conveyed through transfer pinion 54 to indicatorpinion 55. The indicator needle 57 is affixed to the end of shaft 55which is also connected to indicator pinion 55. Thus, the rotation ofindicator pinion 55 causes rotation of indicator needle 57.

The output of reduction gear box 56 is such that one rotation ofsteering wheel shaft 41 results in the indicator needle 57 moving, forexample, from the central marker or indicium to the next adjacentmarker. The indicator needle 57 moves to the right or left depending onthe direction of rotation of the steering Wheel shaft 41, indicating theposition of the motor or rudder.

The assembly 40 can be used with existing equipment. It is onlynecessary to fix a gear ring (not shown) to the steering wheel shaftwith which the take-off gear 52 can mesh. 'In the alternative thesteering wheel shaft may be removed and teeth out or knurled thereon asshown in FIG. 6. The indicator assembly is otherwise installed as in aninitial installation.

From the above description of this invention, it can be seen that theposit-ion of the motor or rudder is readily available to the boatoperator by a mere glance at the direction indicator assembly. Theindicator assembly isconstructed from a minimum number of componentparts and is therefore economical to manufacture and maintain. Thedirection indicator eliminates the necessity of the boat operatorturning around to determine the position of the motor or rudder Withrespect to the boat. Such an indicator is particularly desirable Wherethe motor installation is such that it is necessary for the operator tostand up to see the motor or motors to determine the position thereof.The indicator assembly can also be used with existing equipment withminor variations.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, itwill be understood that modifications and improvements may be madethereto. Such of these modifications and improvements as incorporate theprinciples of this invention are to be considered as included in thehereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their languageexpressly state otherwise.

I claim:

An indicator for direction of movement of a boat comprising; a steeringshaft, said shaft journaled in a housing, said shaft having anexternally threaded portion, an internally threaded collar in threadedengagement With said portion and movable relative thereto, a cylindricalsleeve fixed With respect to said housing and surrounding said shaft andsaid collar, said sleeve having a cam slot formed therein, a cam pinfixed to aid collar and extending through said cam slot, an indicatorneedle fixed to said cam pin, an indicator dial carried by said housingand having indicia thereon, whereby rotation of said steering shaftcauses said collar to move axially of said shaft; said slot thereuponcooperating with said cam pin to move said indicator needle with respectto said dial thereby indicating a change in the direction of travel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,337,848 Pendzuviater Apr. 20, 1920 1,431,797 Hess Oct. 10, 19222,707,451 Brink May 3, 1955 2,934,035 Hardy Apr. 26, 1960

